We are composed of three parts: spirit, soul, and body. God’s spirit dwells in our spirit-man which is regenerated when we are born again. Our soul is our mind, will, and emotions, and our body is our human frame as well as our five senses. The soul is the transition point between our spirit and the body. When our soul is cluttered with lies, sinful desires and addictions, we imprison God’s presence within us and keep Him from flowing out. God is hindered by the sinful activity of the soul, therefore as we deny ourselves and allow the Holy Spirit to transform our minds we will be filled with God’s glory to greater and greater measures.

Again our soul (mind will and emotions) is the gateway between the body and our spirit. God dwells in fullness within our spirit and He wants to release that fullness through the gateway of the soul. This means that the more our soul comes into alignment with the image of Christ, the more the presence of God is able to flow freely out of our spirit and immerse us with His intoxicating presence. His Spirit will then flow through us as “rivers of living water,” to those around us and they too will encounter God. We become glory-dispensaries!

Our soul is like a dam on a river. The river being our spirit, and the dam being the soul (transition) between each side. As we allow God to break down our pride, selfishness, sinful desires and addictions, the dam begins to crack and the water leak through. If you will permit the Holy Spirit to bring a complete death-to-self, then the dam will be broken into pieces and the river that has been held back for so long will be released like a flood. Understand that the floods of glory are already deposited within our spirit, but the floodgate is the soul. The gates holding back the river from having an unhindered flow need to be unlocked by partnering with the Holy Spirit in putting to death the deeds of the flesh.

“For if you live after the flesh you shall die: but if you by the Spirit put to death the deeds of the flesh you shall live.” (Romans 8:13)

Death to self is the quickest way into living in the spirit. When self is laid on the cross, then the life of Christ can be manifested and experienced in our bodies.

Pure in Heart

“Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)

There are two ways of looking at this verse, and I think both are important concepts to understand.

Sin blinds and numbs us to the presence of God, but when we are pure in heart our ability to see and experience Him is increased. Holiness is the only lens by which we can see Him accurately. The more pure our heart becomes, the clearer we see Him because our vision is no longer distorted by sin. Purity increases our ability to enter into His presence.

The other side of this would be that purity is irresistible to the Father, He is attracted to purity. Therefore as we allow the Holy Spirit to purify our lives, God’s presence is then manifested to us in greater and greater degrees.

“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrews 12:14)

Purity is magnetic in the kingdom: like attracts like. As we align ourselves with His nature, we become more compatible with Him and that allows Him to flow more freely in our lives.